Eulogy for a Good Cat

Audacious leaves cling to the trees.
They still have yet to learn
That autumn brings a bitter chill,
Their perky green to spurn.

You left us far too soon, dear cat --
We thought you would grow old.
September sun warms broken hearts
And turns the mountains gold.

RIP, Biscuit Cat. 

Please stay away from foxes in heaven.

Also...

Happy Birthday Three!!

 I thought you might like this.

It's a little long, but now that you're old, maybe you can handle it. Plus it helps kids. And stuff like that.... 

Super Foods, The Sequel...

I promise I'll lay off the super food obsession soon, but this recipe is too good not to share. Super Food Cake is a low-guilt treat just packed with wholesome goodness (see photo above!). Obviously carrots and zucchini are no strangers to baked goods, but kale plays an excellent supporting role here, too, along with flax, olive oil and lots of antioxidant-packed walnuts. The result is really more a bread than a cake, but calling it cake is so much more satisfying. If I were in that stage of life where I regularly packed lunch boxes for my babes I think a muffin version of this would be a staple. Incidentally, friends, all the back to school Facebook pictures of your adorable offspring in new clothes and oversized backpacks make me burst into tears. I don't know how you do it. As is, my kiddies like to eat thick slices at their little table in the kitchen while dressed in red, white, and blue undies. It's good fuel for saving the world.

recipe after the jump!

Super Food Cake

Mix together:

3 eggs

1/3 c. olive oil (I used evoo, because that's what I had handy, but this would be a fine place for the lighter stuff, too)

2/3 c. Greek yogurt

1 c. lightly packed brown sugar

1 c. grated carrot (about 2 small)

1 c. grated zucchini (about 1 small)

1 c. chopped kale, (about 5 small leaves, tough stems and ribs removed)

1 Tbs. fresh grated ginger

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon juice

In a separate bowl, combine:

1 scant* c. all purpose flour

2 scant c. whole wheat flour

4 heaping Tbs. ground flax

1 Tbs. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg 

1 scant tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 scant tsp. salt

1 c. chopped walnuts

Fold together the wet and dry ingredients, then smear the rather stiff batter into an extra long, greased and floured bread pan (or two regular bread pans). Sprinkle the top with:

2 Tbs. turbinado sugar

Bake at 375* for ~1 hr. and try to let cool before slicing.

 *If you happen to be baking somewhere less altitudinous than the Mile High City, make your dry ingredients NOT scant, decrease your oven temp to 350 and check to see if a poker comes out clean after an hour -- it might need a bit longer.

For good little monkeys

Last week the kids and I experienced a communal chocolate craving, the intensity of which points to the supernatural. We didn't have an antidote immediately available, so we whipped these up from scratch. They are delicious, quick, and not terribly naughty. Unless you eat them for breakfast.... 

Malted Banana Brownies

Preheat your oven to 350* and generously grease a pan -- ours was just slightly smaller than 9x13.

While the oven is heating, mash together:

1 ripe banana

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large eggs

Once you have a nice, fragrant sludge, add your dry ingredients all at once and mix until just combined:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup Ovaltine

4 heaping Tbs ground flax

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts

Pop that baby in the oven for about 30 minutes, until the brownies just begin to set in the center. You will not regret making these. Promise.

S'mocolate Chip Cookies

{full recipe}

Hi.
I think these are important for you to see.
I think these are important for everyone in the whole world to see.
They've changed my life for the better.
Do with them what you will.
. . .

As long as you will make them.

Soon.

and share.

with me.

I love 'Merica

In light of recent events, I decided to plaster the blog with pictures of me and really patriotic stuff. 

Like astronauts. 

And future astronauts.

And spaceships.

And rockets.

And American flags.

'Cause I love America. 

For the realz.

I love who we are -

I love what we stand for.  

I love 'Merica so bad it hurts. 

Let's. Get. Fashion...y

Two and I went to fashion's night out (or FNO) last week. What's FNO you ask? Um, I'm not exactly sure, but it involved lots of people dressing up in fashionable clothes. Also, gawking was not so much allowed as actively encouraged. It was just as silly and vapid and fun as it sounds, and I think I'll do it again next time around. 

Pinkberry is ALWAYS in style

A September Memory

Remembering the good times carries us through the bad.

Something about summers sun with the kiss of autumn makes September a prime season for remembering.

On September 10th, 2001 I opened the windows before I got into bed. The air felt so wonderful. I was going into my senior year and Regis University and while life wasn't exactly what I had expected it to be, it was good. The news was boring. I felt that even with my imperfections, my prospects upon graduation were excellent. I had returned from a wonderful summer abroad. It was one of those precious moments when everything in the world seemed as it should be -- at least in my little life.

The next morning was a very different story. But more than vigilance, more than fear, more than patriotism, that dichotomy taught me gratitude. There will be moments in our lives where everything seems good. Savor them. Stop and acknowledge the beauty and the goodness around you. When darkness seems to envelope everything of value in life, I cling to those moments; that laughter; the experience of love and I know that somehow, the next time one of those moments come, it will be even more remarkable. Because I'll be better able to appreciate the wonder of peace.